19
Mar 2019
Doctors warn that privatisation of cancer screening will risk patient harm
MPs are urging NHS England to stop the planned privatisation of cancer screening services in Oxford, following warnings by doctors that they will damage the health of patients.
This follows the news that a private organisation has been awarded a contract to deliver positron emission computerised tomography (PET-CT) scanning in the Thames Valley, and that the scanning service in south-east London will also be part-privatised.
PET-CT scanning helps in the diagnosis of cancer, tracks whether treatment is proving successful at shrinking tumours, and assists in guiding surgery.
Victoria Prentis, Tory MP for Banbury, has said in a letter to Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, that she is “extremely concerned” that the switch will impact on patients and that their care will suffer.
She went on to say “Outsourcing a key service to an offsite provider could make it more difficult for the necessary clinicians from the various disciplines (including surgeons, oncologists, radiotherapists) to meet to decide on the best course of treatment for each patient.”
Doctors at Oxford University Trust have also voiced their opposition to the deal. Nick Maynard, a surgeon at the trust, said “If InHealth take over our PET CT service it will undoubtedly cause clinical harm to our patients. This cannot be allowed to proceed.
“Let us be absolutely clear – if this goes ahead, it will lead to patient harm.”
Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in medical negligence claims, providing support and guidance after life-changing events. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.
If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.
Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
Freephone : 0800 304 738
- Like this ? Share with friends